· By Mattias Forsgren

Discover the cinematic folk of Sean Keel. This isn't just folk music – it's story, soul, and sound in motion New EP Barn Dance released June 6th on Icons Creating Evil Art'.

Keels ”slice of life” - language glimmers of magical elements. The physical reality are softly linked with a world of inner dreams. Through the lyrics with movie like pictures Sean Keel transports the listener directly into the sphere of the story. Barn Dance is where the every day chores are a part of the big moments in life. This is the first of his songs where Keel worked with Gabriel Rhodes, and they truly found each other musically, resulting in a collaboration of many more, Rhodes is the producer of every track on this EP.
- "This is a whole EP of story songs. I look for ways to carry the listener completely and instantly into the story.  One is to give them images that I hope are at once familiar and surprising. Barn Dance is the first of my songs that I showed Gabriel Rhodes, and the first he produced. It was kind of a test. He killed it: turned a very small song into a (very small) sonic movie -- it's what he does best, making movies out of song.  We've done at least 50 together since. I especially like Gabe's version of Barn Dance.  The direction he took is pretty much the direct opposite of my way to go instinct, which is for bare bone simplicity. It's fun, every once in a while, to have a bit of variation."

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Keel is not your ordinary outsider. In his 60s, the long-time University of Texas professor, is well-known in the world of research mathematics. He writes poems and short stories, which is revealed in his poetic, storytelling music. In addition to this, he has also written a sword and sorcery novel. He’s made three folk/jazz records with his family band, Bill the Pony, and two albums of “super bare-bones folk-country music.” All self released, and all in complete obscurity.

On the suggestion of a music friend he decided to have his latest record produced by a professional. Surprised by the results, he sent the first mix of the first song to Icons Creating Evil Art, hoping they would post it on their Youtube channel (The 'Discovered by ICEA' series). By happy chance, the label’s founder and owner was the one who listened. Impressed, and in an odd mood, he decided it was time to act on his long brewing scheme of giving a promotional push to a complete unknown.  

The release of a dry scary blue in the end of 2022 was the first step in the experiment, which got great reviews and landed Sean Keel an invitation to come and perform at the Live At Heart Festival in Örebro, Sweden - where he played several shows to full houses, both on his own and with his family in different settings (including a Bill the Pony show).  Keel then followed that up with his latest album ferals welcome in June 2024 and went on to win Kerrville's Grassy Hill New Folk Award 2024 - landing a Texas tour in November that same year together with the other winners of the Festival.

The EP Barn Dance is released on June 6th on Icons Creating Evil Art and follows the EP Fischer which was just released May 2nd and Keel promises more music and an album later this year.